Customizing operation of a touch screen

ABSTRACT

A method for customizing operation of a digitizer system operated with an electronic device is described, the electronic device including software applications. The method includes operating the digitizer system in a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation defined by a plurality of operating parameters, receiving instructions for adjusting one or more operating parameters of the digitizer system, wherein the instructions are defined by a software application, the software application operative to receive input from the digitizer system, and updating operation of the digitizer system responsive to the instructions defined by the software applications.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/682,779 filed on Nov. 21, 2012, which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/561,935 filed on Nov. 21, 2011. The contents of the aboveapplications are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to touchscreens and more particularly, but not exclusively, to controllingoperation of a touch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Touch screens are commonly used as input devices for a variety ofelectronic products and for a variety of different applications. Touchscreens are known to allow a user to interact with an electronic productin more intuitive and versatile manner as compared to other known inputdevices. Touch screens can be used for example to select virtual buttonsdisplayed on the screen, to manipulate size and position of displayedobjects, to enter data with a virtual keyboard, virtual number padand/or by handwritten input, to open a document or application, toscroll within a window, to draw and/or to play games.

Some touch screens additionally or alternatively support stylusdetection. Styluses may be particularly useful for applications thatrequire touch detection with higher resolution such as drawingapplications and/or applications that require handwritten input. Someapplications are specifically geared toward receiving input from astylus such as for example security applications that require a user toprovide a handwritten signature. At times, usage of a stylus is apersonal preference. Known styluses include passive styluses that may bepowered by the electronic device and/or active styluses that may bebattery powered.

Touch screens are often used for operating portable devices, such asPersonal Digital Assistants (PDA), tablet PCs, wireless flat paneldisplays (FPD) screens, laptop computers, smart phones and otherdevices. Since these portable devices are typically battery-powered,power management techniques are typically employed to prolong thebattery life of these devices. Known power management techniques includefor example screen blanking while the screen is not being used and/orhibernating one or more input/output devices while they are not beingused.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,843,439 entitled “Touch Detection for a Digitizer”assigned to N-Trig Ltd., the contents of which is incorporated herein byreference, describes a detector for detecting both a stylus and touchesby fingers or like body parts on a digitizer sensor. The detectortypically includes a digitizer sensor with a grid of sensing conductivelines, a source of oscillating electrical energy at a predeterminedfrequency, and detection circuitry for detecting a capacitive influenceon the sensing conductive line when the oscillating electrical energy isapplied, the capacitive influence being interpreted as a touch. Thedetector is capable of simultaneously detecting multiple finger touchesand/or stylus touch.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,289,289 entitled “Multi-Touch and Single TouchDetection” the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference,describes a touch detection system and method for selectively applying afirst touch detection method over a first selected part of a touchsensitive sensor and a second touch detection method over a secondselected part of the same touch sensitive sensor. It is described thatpositions and sizes of the first and second selected parts of the touchsensitive sensor can be set in accordance with an application being usedor dynamically defined or changed during operation of the application.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,635 entitled “Power conservation apparatus havingmultiple power reduction levels dependent upon the activity of thecomputer system” the contents of which is incorporated herein byreference, describes a method and apparatus for power management in acomputer. A power conservation system of the computer has a plurality ofstates of operation including an ON state, a DOZE state, a SLEEP stateand an OFF state. An activity monitor monitors the activity of thecomputer system and generates control signals for selecting one of thestates of operation for the computer system. During periods ofinactivity, power consumption is reduced, for example, by reducing clockspeeds or removing clocks, and/or by removing power, and/or bycontrolling the refresh frequency to memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a touch screen whose operation is dynamically dictatedby a host electronic device and a method for dynamically customizingoperation of the touch screen. In some exemplary embodiments,customization is responsive to application requirements, battery lifeand/or user preference. Optionally, dynamically controlling operation ofthe touch screen provides for improving performance of the touch screenand/or for prolonging battery life.

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention provides for amethod for customizing operation of a digitizer system operated with anelectronic device, the electronic device including softwareapplications, the method comprising: operating the digitizer system in afirst mode of operation, the first mode of operation defined by aplurality of operating parameters; receiving instructions for adjustingone or more operating parameters of the digitizer system, wherein theinstructions are defined by a software application, the softwareapplication operative to receive input from the digitizer system; andupdating operation of the digitizer system responsive to theinstructions defined by the software applications.

Optionally, the instructions defined by one software applicationoperative to receive input from the digitizer system is different thanthe instructions defined by another software application operative toreceive input from the digitizer system.

Optionally, the instructions defined by a software application changeduring an operating session of the software application and whereinoperation of the digitizer system is updated responsive to the changes.

Optionally, the software application is selected from a group consistingof: word processing application, drawing application, gamingapplication, internet browsing application, e-mail application,spreadsheet application, navigation application, data processingapplication, social networks application, phone dialing application,messaging application, security and/or signature verificationapplication, handwriting recognition application, translationapplication, data consuming or processing application, image processingor displaying application, audio processing or playing application,video processing or playing application, electronic books application,news application and price comparison application.

Optionally, the software application is a power management application.

Optionally, the digitizer system includes a digitizer sensor formed froma plurality of conductive lines spread over a sensing surface andwherein the digitizer system is operative to alter a routine fortriggering the conductive lines of the digitizer sensor responsive tothe instructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to alter a refresh rate ofthe digitizer system responsive to the instructions defined by thesoftware application.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to toggle betweenactivating or suspending activation of a processing routine forprocessing sampled data responsive to the instructions defined by thesoftware application.

Optionally, the processing routine is selected from a group including:gesture detection, smoothing algorithms and palm detection.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to activate one or more ofstylus detection and fingertip detection responsive to the instructionsdefined by the software application.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to activate single touchdetection or multi-touch detection responsive to the instructionsdefined by the software application.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to activate a processingroutine for detection of up to a predefined number of simultaneousfingertip touches responsive to the instructions defined by the softwareapplication.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to toggle betweenactivating and suppressing hover detection of one or more of stylus orfingertip responsive to the instructions defined by the softwareapplication.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to alter number of bitsused for sampling analog output responsive to the instructions definedby the software application.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operative to alter resolution of thedigitizer system responsive to the instructions defined by the softwareapplication.

Optionally, the software application is operative to learn a parametercharacterizing how a user operates with the digitizer system and todefine the instructions responsive to the parameter learned.

Optionally, the digitizer system is operated with a mobile phone or asmart phone.

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention provides for anelectronic device including a host computer, electronic display anddigitizer system, the electronic device comprising: a controllerassociated with the host computer that receives instructions foradjusting one or more operating parameters of the digitizer system, theinstructions defined by a software application, the software applicationrunning on the host computer; a controller for operating the digitizersystem, the controller operative to operate the digitizer system in afirst mode of operation and to updating operation of the digitizersystem responsive to the instructions defined by the softwareapplication; and an interface medium for communicating instructionsdefined by a software application to the controller of the digitizersystem.

Optionally, the electronic device includes a memory having storedthereon at least two software applications, each defining the one ormore operating parameters of the digitizer system, wherein at least oneof the operating parameters defined by one of the at least two softwareapplications is different than that defined by the other of the at leasttwo software applications.

Optionally, the software application is selected from a group consistingof: word processing application, drawing application, gamingapplication, internet browsing application, e-mail application,spreadsheet application, navigation application, data processingapplication, social networks application, phone dialing application,messaging application, security and/or signature verificationapplication, handwriting recognition application, translationapplication, data consuming or processing application, image processingor displaying application, audio processing or playing application,video processing or playing application, electronic books application,news applications and price comparison application.

Optionally, the software application is a power management application.

Optionally, the digitizer system includes a digitizer sensor formed froma plurality of conductive lines spread over a sensing surface andwherein the controller for operating the digitizer system is operativeto alter a routine for triggering the conductive lines of the digitizersensor responsive to the instructions defined by the softwareapplication.

Optionally, the controller for operating the digitizer system isoperative to alter a refresh rate of the digitizer system responsive tothe instructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the controller for operating the digitizer system isoperative to toggle between activating or to suspending activation of aprocessing routine for processing sampled data responsive to theinstructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the processing routine is selected from a group including:gesture detection, smoothing algorithms and palm detection.

Optionally, the controller of the digitizer system is operative toactivate one or more of stylus detection and fingertip detectionresponsive to the instructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the controller of the digitizer system is operative toactivate one of single touch detection or multi-touch detectionresponsive to the instructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the controller of the digitizer system is operative toactivate a processing routine for detection of up to a predefined numberof simultaneous fingertip touches responsive to the instructions definedby the software application.

Optionally, the controller of the digitizer system is operative totoggle between activating and suppressing hover detection of one or moreof stylus or fingertip responsive to the instructions defined by thesoftware application.

Optionally, the controller of the digitizer system is operative to alternumber of bits used for sampling analog output responsive to theinstructions defined by the software application.

Optionally, the controller digitizer system is operative to alterresolution of the digitizer system responsive to the instructionsdefined by the software application.

Optionally, the electronic device is a mobile phone or a smart phone.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the samemeaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art towhich the invention pertains. In case of conflict, the patentspecification, including definitions, will control. In addition, thematerials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting. Although other methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, some exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary digitizer systemthat can be used with at least some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary interface between adigitizer system and host computer for dynamically customizing operationof the digitizer system in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart of an exemplary method for dynamicallycustomizing operation of a touch screen in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to touchscreens and more particularly, but not exclusively, to controllingoperation of a touch screen.

Touch screens are known to be used as an input device for interfacingwith a plurality of different software applications executed by a singleelectronic device. For example, a touch screen can be used to interfacewith a word processing application, spreadsheet application, drawingapplication, phone dialing application, and/or gaming application, allrunning on a single portable computing device. The present inventorshave found that different software applications may typically havedifferent requirements when interfacing with the touch screen. Forexample, some software applications may support multi-touch detectionwhile others may only support single touch detection. In addition, themaximum number of simultaneous touches that need to be identified maydiffer for different applications. In another example, some softwareapplications support both finger touch and stylus input, while otherssupport only stylus or only finger touch. Optionally, one or moreparameters for operating with the stylus or with the touch may also bedefined by the software application.

The present inventors have also found that differences in requirementscan extend, for example to parameters including the refresh raterequired, the latency that can be tolerated, the smoothing betweeninteraction points that is required. For example a phone dialingapplication may require a different refresh rate, e.g. a lower refreshrate than a gaming application. In addition smoothing betweeninteracting points might have low priority for a phone dialingapplication. A drawing application, on the other hand, may prefer moresmoothing at the expense of lower refresh rate or higher powerconsumption. Differences in requirements may also exist within a samesoftware application. For example, the requirements for using a touchscreen to interface with a virtual keyboard may be different than thoserequired while a user is entering free-style text. The virtual keyboardand the free-style entry may be features that are used in commonsoftware application.

The present inventors have found that the touch screen's performance aswell as its power management can be improved by dynamically adjustingone or more parameters for operating the touch screen based onrequirements of an active application. Optionally, one or moreparameters for operating the touch screen are also dynamically adjustedwhile an application is active, based on a current requirement of theapplication, e.g. responsive to displaying a virtual keyboard and/or toswitching to a drawing mode.

According to some embodiments of the present invention there is provideda medium for software application providers to dictate one or moreparameters for operating the touch screen while the software applicationis active. Typically, a default operation mode is defined and the touchscreen operates in a default setting unless otherwise instructed by acontrol unit associated with and/or in communication with the touchscreen. Optionally, a touch screen reverts to the default setting whenthe software application is closed or changes setting responsive toactivation of another software application and/or if the settingrequested by the application is incompatible with the touch sensor.

According to some embodiments of the present invention there is provideda method of improving performance and/or power management of a touchscreen by dynamically adjusting parameters for operating the touchscreen on a per need basis. In some exemplary embodiments, powermanagement is improved by adjusting the processing power required on aper need basis. In some exemplary embodiments, the parameters areadjusted responsive to needs of a software application. Optionallyand/or additionally, the parameters are adjusted responsive to needs ofa particular user. Optionally and/or additionally, the parameters areadjusted responsive to a battery charge level. In some exemplaryembodiments, the needs are dictated by a software provider. Optionallyand/or additionally, the needs are determined over a learning process.Optionally and/or additionally, the needs are determined responsive touser selection.

For purposes of better understanding some embodiments of the presentinvention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 of the drawings, reference isfirst made to the construction and operation of a digitizer systemand/or touch screen as illustrated in FIG. 1. Digitizer system 10 is anexemplary digitizer system and can be used with some embodiments of thepresent invention. Digitizer system 10 may be suitable for any computingdevice that enables touch and/or hover input between a user and thedevice, e.g. mobile and/or desktop and/or tabletop computing devicesthat include, for example, FPD screens. Examples of such devices includeTablet PCs, touch or pen enabled lap-top computers, tabletop computers,smartphones, mobile phones, PDAs, hand held devices that facilitateelectronic gaming, or any other touch enabled computing platforms.Typically, digitizer system 10 includes a sensor 100, e.g. a capacitivetouch sensor including a patterned arrangement of strips and/orconductive lines, also referred to as antennas, which is optionallytransparent, and which is typically overlaid on a FPD 126. Typicallysensor 100 is a grid based sensor including horizontal conductive lines22 and vertical conductive lines 24 forming a first and second axis.Typically, sensor 100 overlaid on FPD126 forms the touch screen.

Circuitry for operating sensor 100 typically includes one or more ASICs16 positioned on one or more PCB(s) 40 and connected to inputs oroutputs of the various conductive lines 22 and/or 24. Typically, ASICs16 function to process the received signals at a first processing stage,e.g. for noise removal and to sample the sensor's output into a digitalrepresentation. The digital output signal can then be forwarded to adigital unit 120, e.g. digital ASIC unit also on PCB(s) 40, for furtherdigital processing. Typically, digital unit 120 receives the sampleddata from ASIC 16, reads the sampled data, further processes the dataand determines and/or tracks the position of physical objects, such asstylus 144 or finger 146. Optionally, hovering of stylus 144 and finger146 are also detected and processed by digital unit 120. Typically,digital unit 120 calculates position, and/or tracking information.Optionally, digital unit 120 performs additional smoothing based on aplurality of detection points to generate tracking information sent to ahost computer 122 via interface 124. Optionally, digital unit 120performs additional processing for example to provide gesturerecognition, to perform palm rejection, to determine a stylusidentification code and/or a stylus mode of operation. Optionally, suchprocessed information is also sent to a host computer 122 via interface124. Typically, host computer 122 includes memory for storingparameters, protocols, data and/or instructions for communicating withdigital unit 120 for operating digitizer system 10. According to someembodiments of the present invention, interface 124 additionallyprovides for transmitting data, e.g. commands and/or instructions fromhost 122 to digital unit 120 for altering operation and/or a currentmode of operation of digitizer system 10.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, digital unit 120together with ASIC 16 serves as the controller of digitizer system 10and/or has functionality of a controller and/or processor. Typically,digitizer system, e.g. digital unit 120 includes memory for storingfirmware and/or software, one or more operational parameters, look-uptables, calibration maps or other instructions or data for operatingsensor 100. Typically, the refresh rate of digitizer system 10 is setand/or controlled by digital unit 120. Output from sensor 100 isforwarded to a host 122 via an interface 124 for processing by theoperating system or any running application. Optionally, at least partof the processing described to be performed by digital unit is performedinstead by host 122.

Typically, detection of touch by a fingertip 146, e.g. finger touchdetection is facilitated when sending a triggering pulse to one or moreof the conductive lines. Typically, the triggering pulse is produced andsent by digital unit 120. Triggering pulses and/or signals are analogpulses and/or oscillating signals, e.g. having frequencies in the rangeof 1-1000 KHz. In response to triggering, amplitude of the signal withinthe bandwidth is examined to detect interaction by fingertip 146.

Digitizer system 10 can operate in self-capacitance mode, e.g. singletouch mode for detecting a single fingertip interaction, and/or inmutual-capacitance mode for detecting simultaneous fingertip touches. Insingle touch mode, all the conductive lines 22 and/or 24 can betriggered simultaneously and position of touch can be determined inresponse to the simultaneous triggering of all the conductive lines. Inmulti-touch mode, scanning is typically required so position of each ofthe plurality of fingertip touches can be discerned. During scanningconductive lines along one axis are triggered one at a time (or ingroups where each line in a group is triggered with a differentfrequency) and in response to each triggering, outputs from theconductive lines along the other axis are sampled. Outputs responsive toeach triggering are examined to detect interaction by one or morefingertips 146. Optionally, the scanning can then be repeated on theconductive lines of the other axis. Due to the repeated triggering andsampling events required for multi-touch detection, multi-touch mode isknown to be a much more process heavy mode as compared to the singletouch mode. In addition, the latency period associated with themulti-touch mode for reporting touch is typically higher and the maximumachievable refresh rate is typically lower as compared to the singletouch mode.

In addition to fingertip touch detection, digitizer system 10 can alsoreceive input from a stylus 144. Stylus 144 may interact with sensor 100by emitting a signal, e.g. in the form of a series of pulses that can bepicked up by one or more conductive lines 22 and 24. Triggering theconductive lines is typically not required for stylus detection.Typically a frequency of a signal emitted by stylus 144 is set to bedistinguishable from the triggering signal used for finger detection.According to some embodiments of the present invention, the refresh ratefor stylus detection can be set to be different than the refresh ratefor detecting finger touch.

A digitizer system similar to digitizer system 10 is described withfurther details, for example in incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 7,843,439,U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,455 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,229, the contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. It is appreciated that thepresent invention is not to be limited to the technical description ofthe digitizer system and methods for detection described herein. Thepresent invention may also be applicable to other digitizer systemdepending on their construction and/or to other methods for detectionwith a touch screen.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 showing a simplified block diagram of anexemplary interface between a digitizer system and a host computer fordynamically customizing operation of the digitizer system in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention. According to someembodiments of the present invention, one or more software applications205 installed on or executed by host computer 122 include API calls 250linked with a protocol 210 for providing instructions for operatingdigitizer system 10 and/or an API for receiving input from digital unit120. Optionally, software application 205, API 255, API calls 250 andprotocol 210 are stored in a remote location and communicated to host122 through a server.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, one or moreapplications 205 provide API 255 that can be used by digital unit 120 tosend messages to one or more applications 205. Optionally, digitizerunit 120 sends traps or asynchronous messages via driver 260 to eachapplication 205 that subscribed to messages of the relevant type.Optionally messages from digital unit 120 may refer, for example tointernal operating states of the digitizer system, battery state, or thelike.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, protocol 210defines commands related to one or more operational parameters and/oroperational modes for operating digitizer system 10, to be sentresponsive to requirements of the software application and/or responsiveto user preferences. User preferences can be user selected, e.g. byentering values or by a pull down menu. Optionally, user preferences,needs and/or habits are application-defined based on data accumulatedfrom the user while using the software application over one or moresessions. Optionally, data accumulated is processed by application 205to characterize a user's habits. Optionally and/or additionally,protocol 210 includes instructions that can be called by API calls 250for changing one or more operational parameters and/or operational modesresponsive to user requests or actions, or due to receiving informationindicating low battery life or other characteristics of the computingplatform. Optionally, protocol 210 is provided by a supplier ofdigitizer system 10 and is called by API calls 250. It is appreciatedthat protocols 210 can either be dedicated to a specific application 205or alternatively can be loaded, called and/or shared by a plurality ofapplications 205.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, protocol 210defines instructions that are communicated through a driver 260 and overa designated interface 124, e.g. USB, SPI or I²C. According to someembodiments of the present invention, software or firmware stored indigital unit 120 includes a protocol implementer 220 for convertinginstructions received from protocol 210 through interface 124 intocommands that can be used for updating operational parameters 130defined by digital unit 120 and/or analog unit 166, e.g. including aplurality of ASICs 16 in electrical contact with conductive lines ofsensor 100. It is appreciated that digital unit 120 and/or analog unit166 may represent and/or may be replaced by a plurality of digitaland/or analog units respectively that together operate as a controllerfor digitizer system 10.

Typically, digital unit 120 includes firmware and/or software withinstructions for operating sensor 100 in a plurality of different modesand/or for activating a plurality of different algorithms for processingoutput sampled by analog unit 166. According to some embodiments of thepresent invention, different modes for operating sensor 100 and/ordifferent algorithms for processing output sampled by analog unit 166are selected and/or activated on per need basis. In some exemplaryembodiments, need is defined by protocol 210 as specified by anapplication provider. Optionally, an application provider can provideinstructions that incorporate user preferences and/or power managementconsiderations. A non-exhaustive exemplary list of software applicationsthat may include API 255 and/or API calls 250 using protocol 210includes word processing applications, drawing applications, gamingapplications, internet browsing applications, e-mail applications,spreadsheet applications, navigation applications, data processingapplications, social networks applications, power managementapplications, phone dialing applications, messaging applications,security and/or signature verification applications, handwritingrecognition applications, translation applications, data consuming orprocessing applications, image processing or displaying applications,audio processing or playing applications, video processing or playingapplications, electronic books applications, news applications and pricecomparison applications. Typically, driver 260 allows one activeapplication 205 to transfer instructions to digital unit 120 at a time,and/or coordinates instructions provided by more than one application205.

A non-exhaustive exemplary list of instructions and/or types ofinstructions that can be supported by protocol 210 of softwareapplication 205 and/or protocol 220 of digital unit 120 includes:

-   -   Detect both stylus and fingertip,    -   Detect only stylus input,    -   Detect only fingertip input,    -   Operate sensor 100 in single touch mode and/or in multi-touch        mode,    -   Detect up to N simultaneous touches (N is defined number),    -   Detect only stylus/finger in a predefined region A on sensor        100,    -   Operate with high/medium/low refresh rate for finger input        and/or high/medium/low refresh rate for stylus input,    -   Operate with high/medium/low latency for stylus input and/or        high/medium/low latency for finger input,    -   Activate/Suppress hover detection for stylus input and/or finger        input,    -   Activate/Suppress gesture detection for stylus input and/or        finger input,    -   Activate/Suppress smoothing algorithms for stylus input and/or        finger input,    -   Activate/Suppress palm detection for stylus input and/or finger        input,    -   Operate with low, medium or high resolution for stylus input        and/or finger input,    -   Specify low/medium/high resolution in a predefined region B on        sensor 100,    -   Sampling output of sensor 100 with M number of bits (M is a        defined number),    -   Operate in power save mode.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, protocolimplementer 220 of digital unit 120 may update one or more parametersbased on instruction from application 205. For example in response toinstructions to activate smoothing algorithms, digital unit 120 maydecrease the refresh rate and/or increase latency to allow ample timefor the smoothing algorithms to operate.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, showing a simplified flow chart of anexemplary method for dynamically customizing operation of a touch screenin accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Accordingto some embodiments of the present invention, at start-up of a hostcomputer 122 (block 310), digitizer system 10 operates with defaultparameters, e.g. a default setting (block 315). Typically, defaultsettings are defined at manufacturing site. Typically, the defaultsetting is defined responsive to an expected primary use for theelectronic device, e.g. for gaming, web browsing, and/or data entry,and/or if the electronic device is expected be used with a stylus and/orwith fingertip touch. In some exemplary embodiments, software foroperating the digitizer system updates a default setting over time basedon accumulated data derived from a user(s) operating the electronicdevice. In some exemplary embodiments, the default settings can bemanually changed by a user, e.g. by activating a dedicated driver and/orsoftware for operating the touch screen.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, during operationof the electronic device, the digitizer system periodically checks ifnew instructions have been received (block 320). Alternatively, newinstructions may be received by a “push” mechanism, for example usinginterrupts. Typically, new instructions are initiated by a softwareapplication running on host computer 122, responsive to activation or tooperation of the software. According to some embodiments of the presentinvention, once the instructions are received, digitizer system 10updates its operation responsive to the new instructions (block 325).According to some embodiments of the present invention, digitizer system10 continues to check for new instructions throughout its operation(block 330). Optionally, digitizer system 10 only checks for newinstructions during a period that a user is interacting with sensor 100and/or stops checking during blanking of the associated display.Optionally, as long as the display is not in a sleep mode and/or ahibernating mode, digitizer system 10 checks for new instructions.Optionally, the frequency for checking is increased while a userinteracts with sensor, e.g. while input is received from sensor 100.Optionally, a software application may provide new instructions, e.g.change initial instructions during its operation, e.g. while a user isinteracting with the software. Optionally, new instructions are providedresponsive to a user changing a type of input to the softwareapplication, e.g. switching from entering input with a virtual keyboardto entering free-style input for drawing. Optionally, a softwareapplication may provide a first set of instructions responsive toactivating a window displaying a virtual keyboard and another set ofinstructions responsive to the user that window or opening anotherwindow, e.g. a window of entering free style text. Optionally, asoftware application may alter instructions responsive to a currentposition of a user interaction, e.g. fingertip or stylus. For example,while a fingertip is presently positioned in an area designated forentering free style text, one set of instructions is provided and whilethe finger positioned in an area designated for selecting one or morevirtual buttons another set of instructions is provided. Typically,digitizer system 10 will continue to operate in a current setting if nonew instructions are received (block 335). In some exemplaryembodiments, instructions are sent to digitizer system 10 to revert backto its default setting when a software application that was previouslyactive was closed and/or deactivated.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication many relevant mediums for providing communication betweensoftware applications and INPUT/OUTPUT devices will be developed and thescope of the terms herein for describing these mediums is intended toinclude all such new technologies a priori.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of means “including and limited to”.

The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, methodor structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, butonly if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materiallyalter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition,method or structure.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: operating a digitizer systemin a first mode of operation, the first mode of operation defined by aplurality of operating parameters, wherein the digitizer system isoperated with an electronic device; receiving instructions forsuspending or activating a defined processing routine performed by thedigitizer system for processing data sampled by the digitizer system,wherein the instructions are defined by the electronic device, theelectronic device operative to receive input from the digitizer system;and updating operation of the digitizer system based on theinstructions, wherein the instructions are defined based on dataaccumulated by the electronic device over an extended duration of time,the data characterizing how a user typically operates the electronicdevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digitizer system includesa digitizer sensor formed from a plurality of conductive lines spreadover a sensing surface and wherein the digitizer system is configured toalter a routine for triggering the conductive lines of the digitizersensor based on the instructions.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thedigitizer system is configured to alter a refresh rate of the digitizersystem based on the instructions.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theprocessing routine is selected from a group including: gesturedetection, smoothing algorithms and palm detection.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the digitizer system is configured to alter apredefined number of simultaneous fingertip touches that is supportedfor detection based on the instructions.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the digitizer system is configured to suspend hover detection ofone or more of stylus or fingertip based on the instructions.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the digitizer system is configured to alternumber of bits used for sampling analog output based on theinstructions.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digitizer system isconfigured to alter resolution of the digitizer system based on theinstructions.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions changeduring an operating session of the electronic device and whereinoperation of the digitizer system is updated based on the changes. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions are defined by a powermanagement application.
 11. A device comprising: a host computer; adigitizer system comprising a digitizer sensor and a digitizercontroller, wherein the digitizer controller is configured to: operatein a first mode of operation defined by a plurality of operatingparameters; receive instructions from the host computer to suspend oractivate a defined processing routine for processing data sampled and todefine the instructions based on data accumulated by the host computerover an extended duration of time, the data characterizing how a usertypically operates the host computer; and update operation based on theinstructions defined; and an interface circuit configured to communicatethe instructions to the digitizer system.
 12. The device of claim 11,wherein the digitizer sensor is formed from a plurality of conductivelines spread over a sensing surface and wherein the digitizer controlleris configured to alter a routine for triggering the conductive lines ofthe digitizer sensor based on the instructions.
 13. The device of claim11, wherein the digitizer controller is configured to alter its refreshrate based on the instructions.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein theprocessing routine is selected from a group including: gesturedetection, smoothing algorithms and palm detection.
 15. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the digitizer controller is configured to alter apredefined number of simultaneous fingertip touches that is supportedfor detection based on the instructions.
 16. The device of claim 11,wherein the digitizer controller is configured to suspend hoverdetection of one or more of stylus or fingertip based on theinstructions.
 17. The device of claim 11, wherein the digitizercontroller is configured to alter number of bits used for samplinganalog output based on the instructions.
 18. The device of claim 11,wherein the digitizer controller is configured to alter resolution ofthe digitizer system based on the instructions.
 19. The device of claim11, wherein the instructions change during an operating session of thehost computer and wherein operation of the digitizer system is updatedbased on the changes.
 20. The device of claim 11, wherein theinstructions are defined by a power management application.